On 21 May 2012, a person calling themselves an official of the psychiatric hospital of Ar-Razi in Salé called his father to inform him that his son was being held in the establishment. The same day, his father went to find him.
Sofiane Alazami left Fez to go to Casablanca while looking for work. He called his mother on 5 May around 4:00 a.m. to let her know that he was in Casablanca but that he would soon return to Fez.